AltartotheSalon

An Audio Study of Medieval Through 18th Century
Art

Saint
Jerome in His Study by Matthias Stomer
(1633-1639)All
photos courtesy of Ball State University Museum of Art.
Ball State University Museum of Art Audio Tour
INTRODUCTIONBefore
the fall of Rome till the time of the Renaissance, the
primary role of Western art was to serve the Church. Images
of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the saints praised God and
reinforced Church doctrine, as well as inspired the
faithful. Sometime during the late Middle Ages, a shift
occurred. Religious figures still featured prominently in
painting and sculpture, but more attention was given to
their physical qualities. Limbs became more rounded and
features more naturalistic. Instead of indeterminate
celestial settings, earthly scenes became part of the
background. As Western culture became ever more secular
during the years between the Renaissance and the late
18thcentury, the
purpose of art, as well as its appearance, changed.

Experience the progression in this audio tour of medieval,
Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo art housed in Ball State’s
Museum of Art. Select from the menu to the left and
download the audio files onto an iPod, MP3 player, or
laptop, and then view the paintings in the Museum of Art as
you listen to the audio selections. (This audio tour
features art work from the upper level of the Museum of
Art. See the menu to the left for museum floor plans.)